Biblical Doctrine | Ambassadors

An Overview of Biblical Doctrine

A doctrine is simply a teaching that is found in the Bible. A teaching in the Bible is true, regardless of whether a person believes the teaching or not. Why is this? Because God is true (Romans 3:4). It is the duty of the saints to study the Bible. The teachings in the Bible are the source of everything that God wants to teach the saints so that they will be ready to do His will (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Ambassadors for Christ aligns with the doctrines that are taught in the Bible.

Leadership of The Ambassadors For Christ

Jesus is the Leader of the Church (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23). Any decision regarding church leadership is predicated on what He has written in the Bible. God has carved out roles for women and men to be instrumental in equipping the saints for service to God's Kingdom.

God appoints men to be overseers of the church for two reasons.

God created man first, not woman (Titus 2:13).
The woman was deceived and tricked by Satan in the Garden of Eden, not man (Titus 2:14).

God holds men to these standards so that their lifestyles will not discourage anyone from listening to God's Word (Titus 1:9). Paul routinely told the saints to follow him as he followed Christ. This is the type of exemplary life that God wants all of his people to show others, especially those who God called to lead His people.

I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 provide the prerequisites for the order to be followed when the saints assemble together to worship. These passages specifically designate men to have positions of authority. Some may argue that the word "men" means "mankind" in hopes to stake a claim that women can be placed in authority. However, the Bible is clear that the word "men" relates to the male gender, because both passages state the man is to be the husband of one wife. Only a man can be a husband and only a lady can be a wife.

Ambassadors for Christ understands that

Christ is the leader of the church.

As such, Ambassadors for Christ are governed by the Holy Scriptures.

They are not controlled by outside organizations or the culture of the day.

Who Is Jesus?

Jesus is God ( John 1:1 and John 10:30). Jesus is the express image of God (Hebrews 3:12). When Jesus (in his bodily form) went back to Heaven, He sent us the Holy Spirit, who he called "The Comforter" (John 14:26 and John 15:26).

Jesus is both Savior and Lord. To Separate the Two is Impossible: (Philippians 2:11)

Jesus' died on the cross and paid the penalty for sin, so that sinners can worship God forever. Those who are committed to Jesus' death on the cross as the payment for sin will have eternal life (John 3:16).

Anyone who trusts in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, repents and believes on Jesus is born again. This is the Gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-4).

What is the Gospel?

The Gospel is the Good News of Salvation (I Corinthians 15:1-4; Matthew 24:4-14).

Jesus paid the price for sin by dying on a cross. While it may seem unimportant, it is necessary to understand that Jesus died on a cross, not a tree. The word for cross is "σταυρός" which is the object on which Jesus was born.

The word for tree (δένδρα) is not used when referring to Jesus' death on the cross.

Church Membership

The Bible does not use the term “church membership." There is no word in the original language which denotes this term. As such, we replace the term "church membership" with "assembly of the believers" or "assemble with the believers to worship God." We use this term in response to the original word (ekklesia), which is translated as church, assembly, or called-out ones.

The Bible specifically says the following in Acts 2:47: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Anyone who is saved according to the scriptures is welcome to assemble with the believers to worship God.

Therefore, we believe those who are saved have been Born Again (John 3:3-8) and have eternal life (John 3:16). Those who meet this criterion are eligible to assemble with the believers to worship God with Ambassadors For Christ.

The invitation to assemble with the believers to worship God is open to any saint, regardless of whether they are “members” of another church. In fact, we encourage you to continue to worship with the believers in your church and become an Ambassador for Christ in your everyday walk of life!

Baptism

Baptism is an outward expression that one identifies with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Baptism is neither a condition of salvation or perquisite for church “membership.” Only Jesus decides who will be part of His Church.

Priesthood of All Believers

Hebrews 4:15-16 teaches that every saint/believer/ambassador for Christ has access to the throne of God. Therefore, anyone who has been born again may pray directly to God through Jesus.

Scripture

II Timothy 3:16 declares that "All Scripture [Old and New Testament] are given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

For this reason, the Holy Bible is the source ordained by God for any belief, doctrine or discipline undertaken by Ambassadors for Christ.

God's Expectations for Saints

God instructs his people to be Ambassadors For Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). An ambassador is a person who represents the values of the one who the ambassador represents.

God's has many duties for His ambassadors. With respect to the assembly of believers, Hebrews 10:23-25 explicitly list the following duties:

Encourage each other to love
Encourage each other to good works
Never Abandon, Renounce, or Give Up assembling together
Strengthen and Encourage one another when the saints assemble together

God instructs his people (Ambassadors For Christ) to separate from the following people:

Separate from Unbelievers (1 Corinthians 5:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:14-18)
Separate from Saints whose lifestyle mirrors that of unbelievers (1 Corinthians 5:11)

God's Discipline for the Saints

God's people are called to excommunicate the saints who express no desire to turn from their sins to a lifestyle whereby they walk according to the Scriptures (II Corinthians 6:14-18; II John 10:11; II Thessalonians 3:6,14). Excommunication is a decision by the overseer that is not to be entered into lightly. Reconciliation is always welcome at the appropriate time.

Reconciliation with those who have been Excommunicated

Reconciliation is not specifically addressed in the previous passage on excommunication. However, II Corinthians 2:6-11 shows that there is a time when punishment is sufficient, and reconciliation with the born-again saints is imperative so that the believer would not be (1) overcome with sorrow or (2) taken advantage of by Satan.